Mutual Funds, Liz Holmes, and How to Lower Your Grocery Bill

Mutual funds are shared investments. That means they use money from multiple people to invest in a basket of stocks, bonds, or other securities. Although mutual funds provide an easy way for people to diversify their portfolios, these investors won’t actually own shares of any of the companies the fund invests in. Instead, they’ll own shares of the mutual fund itself, which invests in the companies for them. The result is generally a less risky investment overall—but also a potentially lower rate of return. 

> Mutual funds, made simple. (More, w/video)
> What are securities? (More)

Investors can purchase shares of a mutual fund through a brokerage firm, but the most common way people invest is through their 401(k) plans. Most mutual funds have a minimum investment (which can range from $500 to thousands of dollars), but some have no minimums. 

> Which are better investments, mutual funds or individual stocks? (More)

> The average returns of the top-performing mutual funds. (More)

The four main categories of mutual funds are stock funds, bond funds, money market funds, and target-date funds. The biggest difference among these four types of funds is the types of securities they invest in. Stock funds, for instance, invest in the stock market. Index funds—which track a specific market index (such as the S&P 500 or Dow Jones)—are among the most well-known types of stock funds.

> Index funds, explained. (More)

> Use this tool to compare different mutual funds. (More)

Discover more: 

> The difference between exchange-traded funds and mutual funds. (More)

> Mutual funds date back to the 1920s. (More)

> Can random investments outperform managed funds? (More)

🫶 Humankind: Taylor Swift recently donated $50K to help a mother who was injured while helping people in a car accident.

In partnership with Northwestern Mutual

The Secret Hack to Secure Your Kids’ Future

Worrying about your children’s future is one of the most common—and taxing—concerns you’ll encounter as a parent. You fret, you fawn, and you consider every possible path for how you can secure it for them … but there’s a unique financial move many people will miss. One that not only ensures your kids’ insurability, but helps build wealth and sets them up for success long-term. So what is it? 

A whole life insurance policy. Whole life insurance policies don’t just help protect your kids’ future no matter how their health situation might change—they accrue cash value over time, which can give your kids another option to draw on when paying for education or making a downpayment on a home*. 

If you want to secure your kids’ future, learn more about how a whole life insurance policy may be the move.

*Utilizing the cash value through policy loans, surrenders, or cash withdrawals will reduce the death benefit.

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 News in Context 

1440 brings you the knowledge and context behind the week's stories:

Ahead of Nathan Fielder's upcoming A24 Elizabeth Holmes documentary, the director revealed that the studio gave them the rare ability to start the project without deadlines, expectations, or even an obligation to finish the film. (More)

> For the uninitiated, a quick primer on Elizabeth Holmes, the disgraced founder of failed biotech startup Theranos. 

> Why America is obsessed with the stories of scammers. 

The US added about 162,000 jobs in August, according to a better-than-expected report from the Labor Department. (More)

> What is the monthly jobs report? 

> How the jobs report impacts Wall Street. 

Podcast host Amanda Hirsch is facing significant backlash over a Polymarket ad in which she promoted wagers about the Lindsay Clancy trial's verdict, with many deeming the ad insensitive. (More)

> Prediction markets rely on "the wisdom of the crowd," the idea that the median estimate of a group can be more accurate than an individual expert's knowledge.

> How the price of a prediction market bet is calculated.

Smart ring company Oura publicly disclosed its IPO filing last week after confidentially filing to go public in May. (More)

> How the process of taking a private company public actually works.

> Why so many companies are going public in 2026.

One Story We're Taking Stock In

When budget airline Spirit announced its shutdown in May 2026 after its second bankruptcy filing collapsed, it would have made sense to assume its employees would no longer be working. And while that was the case for the majority of Spirit employees, it turns out there's a skeleton crew behind the scenes that is still hard at work closing the curtains on the airline's business at large.

The feature story below—one of the most fascinating we read this week—details exactly how a business as large as Spirit is unwound. Spoiler: While Spirit leased many of its aircraft, some of its assets are still being sold off, from its flight simulators to its institutional knowledge.

> Where does Spirit go when it dies? (Read)

> How budget airlines make money. (1440 Topics)

In partnership with Northwestern Mutual

The Smart Way to Protect Your Family

As a parent, you're always looking to help your family feel secure—not just now, but for five, ten, and even fifty years down the road … and there are few better ways to do that than with an insurance plan for your family. Having the right plan in place can help protect everything you’re building, so you can focus on enjoying today. 

With the right custom financial plan, you can ensure your family is not only protected but fully prepared for whatever comes your way. Get matched with a financial advisor from Northwestern Mutual and start building your family life insurance plan today.

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 Etcetera 

> Six ways to lower your grocery bill.

> The history of tipping.

> How to save money on air travel with a hack called "skiplagging."

> Behind the rise of discount shopping app Temu.

> A guide to investing in fine jewelry.

> Why wealthy Americans love AmEx credit cards.

> Where the word "coupon" comes from.
 

> The pros and cons of labor unions.

> Why fast food has gotten so expensive.
 

> The 1990s "Got Milk?" ad campaign was created to fix milk’s dwindling popularity.

> How the top 0.1% came to control nearly 18% of all US wealth. 

> Silicon Valley may be getting too expensive for future founders.